Braves Sign Dale Thayer

The Braves signed righty Dale Thayer to a minor league deal, Baseball America’s Matt Eddy reports. The 35-year-old was outrighted off the Padres’ roster last summer and chose free agency, signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers during the offseason but then opting out of that deal earlier this month. Thayer is represented by O’Connell Sports Management.

Thayer is coming off a bit of a down year in 2015, though he posted a 3.19 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 3.05 K/BB over 225 2/3 relief innings with the Padres over the last four seasons. He has been effective against hitters on both sides of the plate over his career, limiting right-handed batters to a .666 OPS and left-handed bats to a .720 OPS. Thayer should have an opportunity to pitch his way into the Braves’ bullpen, given that Atlanta relievers have a combined 4.51 ERA this season, the fifth-worst such mark in the majors.